FAQ's

Click below for quick answers to our most frequently asked questions.

Is my information private?

We respect your privacy and will not distribute your information without your permission.

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What if I forget my User Name or Password?

Go to Reset Password. Enter your email address to confirm your identity and SouthValleyRideshare.com will email your User Name, a temporary password, and a link to log in and create a new password. Click Submit one time only and wait for confirmation.

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What is a carpool?

This ridesharing option enables a group of commuters to ride together to and from work in a car.  Carpools operate in different ways. Sometimes employers provide them. Usually commuters provide them using their own vehicles. Most carpools operate with a rotation of drivers and vehicles as agreed upon by the participants. 

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What are the benefits of carpooling?

The advantages of commuting in a carpool include:

How much money do I save carpooling?

According to the American Automobile Association’s annual Your Driving Costs study, “the average cost of driving a new passenger car in 2004 is 56.2 cents per mile or $8,431 per year.” The study found that “The largest component of vehicle cost is vehicle depreciation. AAA estimates the average new car will depreciate $3,782 per year of ownership. The second biggest expense is full insurance coverage estimated to average $1,603 per year. The cost of fuel is the third largest expense incurred by vehicle owners. AAA estimates vehicle owners will pay about $975 per year for fuel.” Commuters who carpool can share many of these costs and also save on parking fees. Please see our Cost Calculator for more specific information on your driving costs.

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Does carpooling help the environment?

Carpooling reduces emissions, which helps clean up our air. According to the California Air Resources Board about 50% of all air pollution in our state comes from cars and trucks. Driving as little as 10% less can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.2 to 0.8 metric tons per year depending on the vehicle. EPA studies have shown that trips lasting under 15 minutes cause the most emissions per mile because the vehicle’s emission systems are not completely warmed up and functioning at their best.  So even short trips contribute to poor air quality.

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Is carpooling safe?

Thousands of people carpool safely throughout California on a daily basis. There are a number of steps you can take to help ensure your safety. Plan to meet the person you hope to travel with ahead of time in a public place. Discuss any safety concerns you may have. Write down the person’s driver’s license number and ask for three personal references. Confirm your travel companion’s phone number by calling it. Consider exchanging photographs, emergency contact information, proof of insurance and medical information. If you have any cause for concern, however unsubstantiated, don’t travel with that person.

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How do I start a carpool?

Simply post a listing and wait for a response. You may also print the poster SouthValleyRideshare.com has developed, which directs people to this site to find your listing. Place it at your workplace or on a bulletin board at a café or supermarket nearby.

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Can I place a listing if I don't have a car?

Even if you do not own a car, go ahead a post a listing. When contacted by a potential traveling companion, mention you cannot share in the driving responsibilities, but you are willing to share in the expenses. In the same way, don’t hesitate in responding to a listing. Simply explain that you do not have access to a vehicle and offer to compensate the driver who has posted the listing.

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How do I join an existing carpool?

Search the listings on this site for anyone traveling the same days and directions as you. Contact them through this site to set up a meeting. To access our listings, please register.

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What is a vanpool?

This ridesharing option enables a group of commuters to ride together to and from work in a van.  Compared to carpools, vanpools are usually more structured. They work best when the commute is 30 miles or more, and when some of the riders do not wish to drive at all.  Vanpools operate in different ways. Some are provided by agencies (see KART/AITS,) some by employers and some by commuters using their own vehicles.

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What are the benefits of vanpooling?

The advantages of commuting in a vanpool include:

If you own your own van and want to find riders to share the cost with you, simply post a listing and wait for a response. You may also print the poster SouthValleyRideshare.com has developed, which directs people to this site to find your listing. Place it at your workplace or on a bulletin board at a café or supermarket nearby. If you would like to become an KART/AITS vanpool driver, you must have a Class C license, pass a required physical and provide a DMV printout showing proof of a clean driving record. If you meet those qualifications and would like to volunteer to drive an KART/AITS vanpool, call the Kings County Area Public Transit Agency at (866) 655-5444.

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How do I join an existing vanpool?